Mets Chat Room: Denver revisited edition

Nobody with the Mets will say the franchise turned itself around when it replaced Willie Randolph with Jerry Manuel. However, thereâ€™s no mistaking the difference in mood from the last time the Mets were here Memorial Day weekend.<img src=”http://mets.lohudblogs.com/files/2008/04/images.jpeg” align=”right” heighwidth=”133″ />

“That was another difficult moment,â€™â€™ Manuel said. “It was a tough time for Willie. We werenâ€™t playing well.â€™â€™
The Mets had just been swept in a four-game series at Atlanta, which was the backdrop from Randolphâ€™s apology to ownership for his comments criticism of him was racially motivated. General manager Omar Minaya flew in for the first game of the series to give Randolph a lukewarm vote of confidence and said the apology ended the matter.

However, this week Minaya admitted those comments created an atmosphere of tension that never fully dissipated after Randolphâ€™s meeting with the Wilpons when the team returned to New York.

The Mets are still a .500 team, but thereâ€™s a feeling a cloud has lifted.

“I donâ€™t want to say itâ€™s a relief,â€™â€™ David Wright said when asked to recall the clubâ€™s first Denver trip. “Everybody feels for Willie, but not having that distraction is a positive thing. â€¦ The front office had to make a decision sooner or later.â€™â€™

PREGAME NOTES:Â Manuel refuted a published report (Post) that accused him of working to undermine Randolph to the front office. Manuel said heâ€™s been on the phone several times with Randolph and considers him a friend. â€¦ Ryan Church, on the disabled list with post-concussion syndrome, will begin working out with the team when it returns to New York. After several days the plan is for him to play several rehab games for Single-A Brooklyn. â€¦ Moises Alou, on the disabled list with a strained left calf muscle, has begun some light jogging. Manuel said he would handle Alou conservatively when he returns. “I want to get that bat in the lineup,â€™â€™ Manuel said. â€¦ Damion Easley was at second base last night for the second straight game. “He hit a game-winning home run,â€™â€™ said Manuel, who will reward his bench players with more playing time. “You have to perform.â€™â€™

John Delcos enters his third season covering the Mets for The Journal News after eight seasons on the Yankees beat. Prior to coming to New York, John covered the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians.